Using iPads for different subjects, expectually math, is new to teachers and 8th grade students. All 8th graders are assigned an iPad that they get to carry around from class to class and also gets to take them home to do homework and any classwork.

An 8th grade math teacher, Mr. VanAntwerp, doesn’t think that it is the right time for students to be using the iPads. Mr. VanAntwerp stated, “I don’t think that using the iPads is better than the textbooks because I don’t think we are there yet.” However another 8th grade teacher and curriculum developer, Ms. Dunn, thinks that the iPads are  better than the textbooks because they have all of the lessons, worksheets and videos that the students can learn from.

Mr.Van says that students should be more trained to use the iPads because it is different than pen and paper. Mr. Van said, “I think that students and teachers should be more trained to use the iPads, maybe it could help more.” Ms.Dunn wouldn’t change anything, but the students need to have their iPads charged and ready for the day.

Ms. Dunn says that the iPads are “easier because when the students takes notes it automatically saves and they know where to find the notes.” Mr. VanAntwerp also thinks that math is a harder subject to use the iPads. He says, “iPads are easy to use for language arts and civics because students can use Google Classroom and Google Docs.”. Mr. Van thinks that it if there were more math apps it would probably be easier.  

Mr.Van advises students to “use the iPads at the appropriate time next year and to focus on your work because it will be more difficult”. There will also be a lot of new changes and he won’t really know what to expect until over the summer once they changed everything.  

Ms. Dunn stated, “Expect to see IXL a lot more and taking notes on there.  It will be different at first and some getting used to, but in the end it will turn out to be a lot of fun!”